A weight collar for retaining a weight on a bar, comprising a bar engaging section having an opening for receiving the bar therethrough and a weight engaging section having proximal and distal ends, the weight engaging section extending from the bar engaging section so as to extend at least partially toward the weight when the bar engaging section receives the bar through the opening, the bar engaging section being configured to engage the bar with a gripping force as the weight exerts a rotational force on the distal end of the weight engaging section so as to prevent the weight from sliding off the bar, the distal end of the weight engaging section being orthogonally spaced at least 1 inch from a central axis of the opening, a center of gravity of the collar being orthogonally spaced at least 0.1 inches from the central axis toward the distal end.